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Enhancement of Fecal Sludge Conversion Into Biogas Using Iron Powder During Anaerobic Digestion Process

Received: 3 December 2016     Accepted: 12 December 2016     Published: 9 January 2017
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Abstract

Anaerobic digestion is often used to stabilized and convert organic wastes into methane and biological fertilizer. However, when applied to fecal sludge, it doesn’t yield good methane due to its high content of nitrogen. Here we have conducted anaerobic digestion of fecal sludge in the presence of iron powder (Fe) as electron donor. Results showed that 4822.7 mL CH4 kg-1 was successfully recovered from fecal sludge in the control. The use of Fe in the anaerobic bio-digester remarkably improved methane yield. Indeed, up to 9933.3 mL CH4 kg-1 wet sludge was recovered when Fe is properly used (1 g Fe for 400 g wet weight), compared to 4822.7 mL kg-1 in the control. The concentration of methane in the produced biogas increased from 58.0% in the control to 72.5% and 77.6% in the presence of iron powder, respectively at the dose rate of 0.5 g Fe and 1 g Fe per 400 g wet sludge. COD removal efficiency was also greatly improved. 65.5% of COD was removed when excreta was properly spiked with Fe (1g Fe) against 42.2% in the control. This corresponds to an increasing rate of 23%. Furthermore, the presence of Fe in the digesters considerably reduced the odor by trapping produced sulphur ion and prevent the formation of H2S responsible for the sickening odor.

Published in American Journal of Environmental Protection (Volume 5, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajep.20160506.15
Page(s) 179-186
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Fecal Sludge, Anaerobic Digestion, Valorization, Iron Powder, Methane

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Ignace Chabi Agani, Fidèle Suanon, Biaou Dimon, Edouard Binessi Ifon, Frank Yovo, et al. (2017). Enhancement of Fecal Sludge Conversion Into Biogas Using Iron Powder During Anaerobic Digestion Process. American Journal of Environmental Protection, 5(6), 179-186. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20160506.15

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    ACS Style

    Ignace Chabi Agani; Fidèle Suanon; Biaou Dimon; Edouard Binessi Ifon; Frank Yovo, et al. Enhancement of Fecal Sludge Conversion Into Biogas Using Iron Powder During Anaerobic Digestion Process. Am. J. Environ. Prot. 2017, 5(6), 179-186. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.20160506.15

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    AMA Style

    Ignace Chabi Agani, Fidèle Suanon, Biaou Dimon, Edouard Binessi Ifon, Frank Yovo, et al. Enhancement of Fecal Sludge Conversion Into Biogas Using Iron Powder During Anaerobic Digestion Process. Am J Environ Prot. 2017;5(6):179-186. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.20160506.15

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajep.20160506.15,
      author = {Ignace Chabi Agani and Fidèle Suanon and Biaou Dimon and Edouard Binessi Ifon and Frank Yovo and Valentin Dieudonné Wotto and Olusegun Kazeem Abass and Mathieu Nsenga Kumwimba},
      title = {Enhancement of Fecal Sludge Conversion Into Biogas Using Iron Powder During Anaerobic Digestion Process},
      journal = {American Journal of Environmental Protection},
      volume = {5},
      number = {6},
      pages = {179-186},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajep.20160506.15},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20160506.15},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajep.20160506.15},
      abstract = {Anaerobic digestion is often used to stabilized and convert organic wastes into methane and biological fertilizer. However, when applied to fecal sludge, it doesn’t yield good methane due to its high content of nitrogen. Here we have conducted anaerobic digestion of fecal sludge in the presence of iron powder (Fe) as electron donor. Results showed that 4822.7 mL CH4 kg-1 was successfully recovered from fecal sludge in the control. The use of Fe in the anaerobic bio-digester remarkably improved methane yield. Indeed, up to 9933.3 mL CH4 kg-1 wet sludge was recovered when Fe is properly used (1 g Fe for 400 g wet weight), compared to 4822.7 mL kg-1 in the control. The concentration of methane in the produced biogas increased from 58.0% in the control to 72.5% and 77.6% in the presence of iron powder, respectively at the dose rate of 0.5 g Fe and 1 g Fe per 400 g wet sludge. COD removal efficiency was also greatly improved. 65.5% of COD was removed when excreta was properly spiked with Fe (1g Fe) against 42.2% in the control. This corresponds to an increasing rate of 23%. Furthermore, the presence of Fe in the digesters considerably reduced the odor by trapping produced sulphur ion and prevent the formation of H2S responsible for the sickening odor.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Enhancement of Fecal Sludge Conversion Into Biogas Using Iron Powder During Anaerobic Digestion Process
    AU  - Ignace Chabi Agani
    AU  - Fidèle Suanon
    AU  - Biaou Dimon
    AU  - Edouard Binessi Ifon
    AU  - Frank Yovo
    AU  - Valentin Dieudonné Wotto
    AU  - Olusegun Kazeem Abass
    AU  - Mathieu Nsenga Kumwimba
    Y1  - 2017/01/09
    PY  - 2017
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20160506.15
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajep.20160506.15
    T2  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
    JF  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
    JO  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
    SP  - 179
    EP  - 186
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5699
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20160506.15
    AB  - Anaerobic digestion is often used to stabilized and convert organic wastes into methane and biological fertilizer. However, when applied to fecal sludge, it doesn’t yield good methane due to its high content of nitrogen. Here we have conducted anaerobic digestion of fecal sludge in the presence of iron powder (Fe) as electron donor. Results showed that 4822.7 mL CH4 kg-1 was successfully recovered from fecal sludge in the control. The use of Fe in the anaerobic bio-digester remarkably improved methane yield. Indeed, up to 9933.3 mL CH4 kg-1 wet sludge was recovered when Fe is properly used (1 g Fe for 400 g wet weight), compared to 4822.7 mL kg-1 in the control. The concentration of methane in the produced biogas increased from 58.0% in the control to 72.5% and 77.6% in the presence of iron powder, respectively at the dose rate of 0.5 g Fe and 1 g Fe per 400 g wet sludge. COD removal efficiency was also greatly improved. 65.5% of COD was removed when excreta was properly spiked with Fe (1g Fe) against 42.2% in the control. This corresponds to an increasing rate of 23%. Furthermore, the presence of Fe in the digesters considerably reduced the odor by trapping produced sulphur ion and prevent the formation of H2S responsible for the sickening odor.
    VL  - 5
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, University of Abomey-Calavi, Republic of Benin, Cotonou, Benin

  • Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, University of Abomey-Calavi, Republic of Benin, Cotonou, Benin

  • Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, University of Abomey-Calavi, Republic of Benin, Cotonou, Benin

  • Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, University of Abomey-Calavi, Republic of Benin, Cotonou, Benin

  • Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, University of Abomey-Calavi, Republic of Benin, Cotonou, Benin

  • Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, University of Abomey-Calavi, Republic of Benin, Cotonou, Benin

  • Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China

  • Key Laboratory of Mountain Surface Processes and Ecological Regulation Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China

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